Halloween

I thought I would show off my Halloween cards I am making for this year. If anyone is interested in purchasing one, please let me know. the cost per card is $4.95 Some are on orange card stock and some are on black card stock,which you can use a white or silver pen to write on inside. they are blank inside for your own personal writing.

this is a close up of a leaf that was on the ground, I just love the colors .

the trees are starting to turn , we have a hard frost coming up tonight and tomorrow night, so the leaves will really start to change. this is my favorite time of year.

this is a picture of the front door all ready for Halloween.

Well, I thought I would share what happens when it rains alot ! I happen to find a fairy ring of mushrooms growing in the red stones that are near the house, I like this one the best because of the coloring .

The Art and Music Festival

this shows my fairies

this shows my paper mache pieces and my Halloween rattles I did ok at the show, they had all kinds of music playing all over town( Clinton) and there were artists all up and down the streets on the sidewalks, plus those of us who got a space on the village green.

Hi All. well this is a close up of what is on Jacob's back deck, near the roof line. I t has been sprayed with hornet killer for 3 days ,hopefully the hornets are dead now, when they knock it off the house this evening.I just thought everyone would like to see it, it was pretty big for a hornet nest.

the band that played Tuesday Night

farmers market

picture on right is a photo of the fountain in the center of the Village Green Park

picture of the town shops

the deer and fawn in back yard

this is Maxwell , my baby cat that Jacob has been taking care of. I think he remembered me cause I don't go to far and he is always looking for attention !

Coming to Clinton NY

Hi Everyone,
I know I am actually blogging again and now I am back on the east coast. It was an interesting trip driving back across the country again. I am so glad that drive is over! 00 miles a day, about 8 to 10 hours driving each day.It took me 6 days to get back to the east coast. Would I do it again? NO, I am glad I won't have to drive that kind of distance again!
I thought I would show you a few pictures of my home town. It is a small town and has alot of things going on for a small town. I am staying wih my son Jacob, till I can get my own place or maybe I will go have another adventure and go east more or south ,one never knows where life will take you!
Jacob lives tiht in the village, so i was real surprised to see the wildlife so close. Behind Jacob's house is a wooded area and in front of his house (on the other side of the road) is another wooded grassy area..My second day here I saw a deer and her fawn out in the back yard. Or maybe I should say the deer was in the back yard ,but the fawn couldn't jump the fence, so he just waited for "mom" to come back.
Just the other night I almost ran into a red fox, I am not sure who scared who the most ,I know he was about 15 feet away before I realized it was a fox not a big house cat!
The one thing I just love seeing at night are the fireflies !! I go out each night to watch them, I am talking about 100;s of little green lights gong off and on thur the night till about 11.
Then lets nor forgot about all the trees, maple , elm, ash, willows and grass! I have run thru the grass in bare foot just to feel it once more and the smell of fresh mowed grass is wonderful. Flowers all over the place, day lilies, violets, just to name a few.
The town has a church that rings the bell for the hour of the day, so just in case you are sure of the time, you will hear the bell start to go off and all you need to do is count the rings to know the time, the ring on the hour.
Clinton has a big oval park in the middle of town, I guess that is why they call it the "Village on the Green" So, the shops line one side of the street and are opposite the "green" Well during the summer on Tuesday night they have a band that plays in the gazebo , bands each Tuesday, you will hear blues, grass-blues polka bands. you just never know what band will be there. Then on Thursday they have a farmers market where you can buy fresh veggies and fruits that are grown locally.
I also found an artist co-op In town, which I will be bring a few things in this next week, they jury who work goes in there. but I don't think it will be a problem for my work.
They are also having a big Art and Music Festival at the end of August, I was to late to sign up for the artist part, but I did write an e-mail and I "just" so happen to attached a picture of my work, saying that if they got a cancellation to please let me know. Well I got an e-mail back and they loved what I did and will find me a spot so I will be in the show. This event is one of the biggest in the county. I feel at least I am getting my name back out there, I may not sell much, but the exposure could help me out allot.
Well I guess I need to get to the pictures now.... My first picture is of my baby cat Maxwell , I thought you all might like to met him

Here is a picture of the framed piece I talked about and I have also copied the poem I wrote.

The skies are turning a dull gray as the winds blow a chilling blast,
Each step resounds on the frosty ground.
The Frost Fairy has come at last to play within the canyon of time.
Crystal clear she lays on the river and lakes,
The trees she robes with the purest white,
With icicles shimming with rainbow hues and light.
Magic flowers in loving shapes, are part of her own devise,
She makes the windows gay with delight.
　
　
As the moon watches with surprise
For this is all done in a single might
Winter is coming , the Frost Fairy is working her magic,
As the winds blows, the Snow Fairy will be coming out to play.
Snow will be falling in the canyon of time.
May you find the time to come out dancing in the night,
And join the Frost Fairy dancing in the moonlight.
helping her make magic frost, looking like magical flowers in delight.
And icicles with rainbow hues and light.
　
So … Please ,Come out and dance,
Dance with the Fairies of Winter
Before it slips away.

Where am I ?

Here is a drawing I did of that chilly wind once feels as the snow starts to fly in the canyon. I even wrote a poem about the Frost Fairy and the wind and Snow Fairy. I did up a piece of scrape book paper and got a frame to fit it. I have shown it two times,and not one thing said about the poem. So I sit here and wonder this morning .. What am I doing? Where am I? I long to go back east, I miss my kids, I miss not being able to breathe, and have been told by many of Doctors that I need to get to a lower altitude,but here I am still at the Grand Canyon! I tell myself I am here because this is where my job is. But lately I have gotten to the point I don't like going into work. There are so silly things going on at work and it feels like I am back in High School. I Have been out of high school for a long time, I guess I don't want to play any reindeer games !

I also don't know where I would go if I left the canyon, back to New York? or Virginia? or somewhere else all together? I ask myself these questions and I don't have an answer yet. So I stay here ,thinking the answers will come when I am ready to hear them and I have to trust the universe that it knows what it is doing.

I am drawing more and being more creative, and maybe that is why I am still here to get more confidence in my artist talent. My fairies people seem to love them,but I haven't sold one for awhile. Which could be where I am showing them. I need to get them out to the visitors who come here or just find a shop close by who would sell them.

Where am I? I am here at the canyon, looking into the window of time and wondering how I fit into this world. or is it I don't fit anywhere... and I am just passing time till the next life's adventure? Or am I looking from the outside looking in the window and still see nothing? I have some how lost that inner peace I felt here , so does that mean it is time to move on and find another place that I will once again feel inner peace? The mind is just full of questions and once again I will have to wait till I am ready to hear the answers to all my questions . Soul searching is a hard path in times like these. So I draw using my water color pencils to find that inner joy and beauty I once saw. I take photos to see the inner beauty of this place called the Grand Canyon.

Winter is coming, frost is all around, the winds will be blowing and carrying the flakes of snow.

and here I sit,waiting for answers to come home.

Well, It has been awhile since I blogged. So I figured i would start out showing what i have been working on for the last few "months" I am hoping to start a blog about my fairies some time down the road, I am sure Sunni would say "it is about time!"
Spring has come to the canyon finally! The past winter was a hard one , more snow than I ever thought i would see since I came out west almost 3 years ago. I find it amazing I am going on 3 years working here at the Grand Canyon.
It just doesn't seem like I have been here that long. I am hoping now that nicer weather is here to get out and start walking again and walking the rim trail again. I have some health issues now and I just have to be more careful when it comes to exercising. Since I was so sick back in 2008-2009. It seems my body has decided to break down a little. Getting "old" is very hard to do! My mind is still young, but the body will tell me in a matter of moments," don't do that or you will be sorry" I joked the other day that I wish I could trade the body in for a newer one. but since that can't be done, I guess I will have to figure out how to get the body I have to do some of the things I enjoy. Getting it back in shape won't be easy, but who ever said Life would be easy!
Sunni and I when and had ice cream yesterday for lunch! yes I know that is not a great way to get the body back in shape. But it was Ohhh So Good! We sat outside and enjoy a nice warm day!

I do hope all are well, and are able to enjoy the spring days that lay ahead.

Summer is here!

It seems Summer has arrived at the Canyon. We seemed to have skipped Spring and went right into the 80's with at 30 to 40 % chance of T-storms almost every afternoon. I so love a great storm up here, the lightning over the canyon is really takes your breath away.

2nd photo-

Last weekend Sunni & I took a trip up to the Hopi village, on our way their( it took about 3 hrs driving time) we found a sigh within the National Park, one that you don't see everyday .

top photo-

The other place we stopped was at Coal Mine Canyon, there is a story about the Ghost Lady,(an all "white" large stone) who lives in the canyon, and when the full moon is full, she dances within the canyon walls.

We got to the Hopi village around 12;30. Monica(who I work with) had invited us to a kachina dance, to celebrate a good harvest and asking for rain. We took chairs to sit it, but the only thing we found was a ladder to climb, so up to the rooftops is where we sat, a great view of all the dancers. We found the plaza where the dancers were, I was just amazed at how many dancers were there! There must have been 150 dancers!It was very awl appeally , and it moved me in a spiritual way. They were completely in sync with each other, there feet moved all the same time, there turkey fan headdress if there head went down they all did. All kachinas wear a mask, for they are the spiritual beings that come down from the San Francisco Peaks. They would dance & sing for awhile, then leave the plaza, only to come back with baskets & baskets of food, cookies, fruits, veggies, Bread and treats. Then they would hand to the crowd. For those on the rooftops, they started throwing food up to those people, It was really an amazing day. No cameras allowed, for it is bad luck to photo the kachina dancer. I saw something that most people don't get to see, and the images in my mind will stay with me for what is left of my life. I feel blessed to have been able to be asked to see there ceremony. That was the last dance till Dec, the kachinas have all gone back home to the mountains. I hope to be able to see them again when they do come back from the mountains.

Will Spring ever come to the Canyon?

Here it is April, & we had snow again yesterday! The sun was out today & it is suppose to get real nice this weekend. They say by Monday we could be in the 70's!!!

I am back to work full time now. Back into the flow of life . Sunni & I hiked the rim trail a few sundays ago, I think we walked about 2 miles! I have not done that since I was so sick. It felt good to get out there & walk some. I am still working on fairies, still working on my book about fairies of the canyon, & now I am starting to make jewelry. I just love the artist made lampwork beads.

i joined a group on line called Mixed Media Art, & I have joined 2 groups on there site. It is pretty neat cause the groups offer changelles for each month.. so it will help keep the creative juices flowing. I think we all need to go out on an artist date ! Just do something for the sake of art.

The Day After the Big Storm

Well,here is what it looked like today at the Grand Canyon. The sun is shining and the trees will slowly lose the white covered branches. I took the shuttle to Market Square to get a few things I needed at the store & to pick up mail. From there I walked down to the Shine of Ages to get the shuttle back. It was walking on this path that I stopped to take a few photos along the way. It was really a wonderful sight to see and I felt an inner peace come over me. I am one of the lucky ones who gets to work and play in a national park.
I will need help getting my car out of the snowbank it is in right now. The plow has put a huge pile of snow behind my car! We got about 10 inches of the white stuff with more heading this way in the next day or two.
Meanwhile, I will just sit here in my room & enjoy the beauty from looking out my window!

Blizzard at the Grand Canyon

Well, here is the road next to my dorm. They aren't calling this a blizzard, but I think they should! We have having winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts above 50mph. It is snowing like crazy out. If we get what they say, we could have 18 inches by tomorrow morning. I am so glad I do not have to go out today & be in this weather. I only went out to take a few pictures and I came back in chilled to the bone.

I think even looking at the pictures brings a chill !

I for one plan on staying indoors for the next few days. I know I will have to get my car out by Thursday, so I can make my appointment at the clinic.But until then if I need to go anywhere I will ride the shuttle.

I must say I liked last week better, sunny,warm in the 50's and 60's. Up here all you have to do is wait 5 or 10 minutes and the weather will change!

Winter Has Come Again

Winter is back at the Canyon! It was so great having warmer days in the past few weeks. During the day it got up into the 50's and low 60's a few days. Now winter is back, if we get what they say, by Wednesday morning we could have 10 inches of the white stuff. I hope not cause I have to be able to get to the clinic on Thursday for my weekly check up.

I am doing pretty good now, have not used the oxygen for the past few days. I am healing and they are thinking I am ready to try working again. It will only be part time for the first few weeks. This way I can get back into slowly .

On Friday, Sunni and I walked the 1/4 mile trail behind the Shire of Ages to go to my favorite spot on the rim trail. Sunni had the oxygen tank on wheels & a chair in case I needed it. I had to stop and rest a number of times, but it felt so great to see the canyon again ! I sat on a rock and just enjoyed the clouds over the canyon and seeing the shadows the clouds made on the canyon. I will post another picture of the canyon on that day.

I think we were out here about 2 hrs, so I had a good day getting my strengh back up. It was real peaceful at this point which is what I love about this time of year. There are not many guests here in the park. One can go on the rim trail & hear the silence of the Grand Canyon.

Here & Back Again

This is a picture that Sunni took of me at Shoshone Point last year. We walked the 1 mile plus to watch the sun rise . How I long to be able to hike again. I am getting better slowly. My legs are finally stronger than they have been since my ordeal at being in ICU at Flagstaff Medical Center.

I do hope that in time I will be able to go back again and see the sun rise at this beautiful point.I think of how far I have come in the last 4 weeks. I find it amazing that I have only been out of the hospital that short of time.

The fund raiser they did for me here at the Grand Canyon Park, made me more aware of the small community we have here and how in time of need they are there to support you, whether if they know you or not. You don't find that in today's world.So for me it was very touching to my heart. I am forever grateful for the help I have received from the people here.

I heard a story the other day, a friend I don't see often, when he heard that the fund raiser was for me, he gave his last dollar to donate to the fund. He didn't want a raffle ticket, he just wanted to give something to the fund to help me.So as I said, I have seen so much kindness, helpful ,spiritual people here that it gives the heart something to think about. I found a place with friends put you before the dollar... a rare treasure to be found in today's world.

So, I titled this Here & Back Again, because I have made a spiritual journey , not only when I was in a coma for 2 1/2 weeks, but even now I am seeing the world with new eyes, with a new heart, and no matter what may come my way in the future. I know I have friends I can depend on Thu thick & thin. And that is another rare gift that one doesn't always find.

So to all those people, I will be forever grateful that you have come into my life,even if only for a short while. Your acts of kindness will never be forgotten.

I am Home Again

Hi Everyone, After being in the Hospital a month, I can came on the 27th of Dec. It sure felt good to be out & back in the small room at the dorm. I never knew I was that sick when I went to the clinic on Nov 28th, as they rushed around trying to get an IV going in my arms. They got 2 of them going & before I know it I am being taken to Flagstaff Hospital by helicopter! I always wanted to ride in one, but this was not the way I thought it would be. I Don;t remember much of the first 2 1/2 weeks in the ICU unit. Sunni did take a picture of me, but after I saw it, my first thought was.. Is that really me? It was scary looking to me when I looked at picture, I can't imagine what it looked like if you had come to visit me. I don't remember seeing allot of you who did come to see me. I do remember my 3boys & sister being there & thinking wow, someone must be really sick for them to all be here, not realizing it was me that was so sick. I was in a coma for almost 2 weeks, & I do have a few profound things that someday I hope to write more about. I realized the creator still has something for me to do.. which is why i came back. The coming back was the hardest thing I have ever done.. Jason, had given me a blue penguin bird,which I saw first thing in the morning & it was the last thing I looked at night. I started calling it the "Blue Bird of Happiness " this bird ended up giving me the courage to get up every morning & do whatever I could to get better. When I finally got out of ICU & into a room I made sure I could see this Blue bird. I still have a long way to go in my recovery, but when I think of where I was just a few weeks ago, I have come a long way. I think now I am more aware of how grand life can be.I believe I have learned allot thou this experience . I know I have a few things I need to draw & write about , but right now when i think about them or try to talk about them, tears come to my eyes, because the thoughts are so moving to me ,so close to me,I just think I need more time to get the thoughts in order. It is very hard to cry with oxygen being blown up your nose because your lungs aren't strong enough to get what you need from the air. Well I hate to say it but it is time for to lay back down. I listen to the body & when it says I am sleepy I listen & so OK, lets go rest now. thank you to all those who came to visit me while in the hospital &those that have helped since I have been home. I have been truly blessed with great friends & family.

Opening of Hermit's Rest Road

It was great to see the road finally open after being closed since March. They have repaved the road, fit the trails in some spots & have added a new 3 mile trail.
I was at the opening ceromonies, they gave out a special pin for those that were there. Only 250 were made! NPS had 2 of the 3 horses there, so it was nice to see them riding around.
Today I am taking a break,well,sortof, I am going to start an art project. I have plans to start to work on the book I started when I first got here. I can't beleive I have been here 1 1/2 years!
Time moves on ,it seems to go faster as we get older. I have yet to met the "cowboy" of my dreams out here! But one never knows what is around the corner ,who knows maybe I'll met him tomorrow. Life is always full of surprises!

First Snow at the Grand Canyon

This is what we all woke up to this morning on Nov.10,2008. It had snowed in the night.

It sured looked pretty out there with all the white "stuff" on all the trees. A peaceful feeling

comes to mind as I look at the beauty here at the canyon.

It was so quiet this morning when I went out to take these few photos of the snow...Some time today the wind is to pick up & I am sure blow all the snow off the trees. In the mean time,it is quiet, peaceful, & beautiful . Last year first snow came on Dec 1, I wonder if this means we have along winter ahead?

the Ghost fo the Canyon

The Ghosts of the Canyon
By Brenda Dewey
As the harvest moon rises over the Canyon,
With twinkling stars all around.
A lonely Witch flies in it’s warm light.
She is getting ready to cast her spell on this night.
As she waits, eyes of yellow, red and green with
Gleaming, Scary smiles are watching her
From the Shadows in the Canyon of time.
Slowly she says the magick words…
“Come, Come, join the revel, lets have some fun!
Lets scare the people in the village below”
Slowly the ghosts come flying over the Canyon wall,
Flying all around the hotels on the trails of time.
Some go to the El Tovar, for they love music, so
They head to the piano room on the second floor.
Soon the eerie, scary music can be heard,
As more ghosts come to join the jubilee,
They sign & dance, scaring all the guests who are there to see.
They bring out pumpkins to carve out scary & silly faces,
And light them with candles, so they have lanterns to see by.
The ringtail’s fangs and eyes glow in the night
As they watch the ghosts from the rafters high above,
For they know this will only last this one night.
When the ghosts of the Canyon visit the hotels on the rim to cause such fright.
As the dawn breaks, the ghosts slowly leave
And go back into the Canyon of time.
All that is left, from their passing, are all the pumpkins they carved
For their lanterns, burned out in the shadows of time.
The Witch flies away, knowing the revel is done,
The pumpkins left behind, so guests will know the
Ghosts of the Canyon
Were really here this time.
So, if you hear scary, eerie music, coming from the hotels along the
Rim this Halloween
It is just the
Ghosts of the Canyon
Having a good time
And
To wish you all
A Happy Halloween

Halloween 2008 at the Grand Canyon

Happy New Year !! Everyone

We can;t use candles up here at the Grand Canyon ,so I used the next best thing ! A green glowstick. this guy sat outside the dorm door.

I enjoyed Halloween this year, I made alot of things to pass out to all my friends & co-workers. This is my favorite time of year, and there are some who call me the "Queen of Halloween" but few know the reason why I celebrate Halloween & enjoy the season.

I have always loved Halloween as a child,as a teenager I created a few tricks back in the 60's & early 70's. toliet paper the trees in the park in the center of town,smash pumpkins, the egg throwing contest at cars passing by, soaping of windows- you know the normal stuff teenagers did back then.

Then as I got older, married and had children of my own, we had the scare of tainted candy, ravor blades in apples, and what used to be a fun time for kids turned into parents checking all the candy to make sure that the wrapper was still all sealed. If they got apples, they were throw out. So, it got to the point where you took your children to people you knew. No more sackful of candy (like I used to get trick or treating) and the local firehouse had a Halloween Parade & Party for the children of the town.

Then as time passed by, children got older, Halloween once again became a little safer for the door to door trick or treating. It wasn;t an important day or night for me back then. It became important to me slowly,it was, My mother died suddenly on October 24, actually 24 years ago. I sometimes can;t beleive that so much time has passed, since her passing on to other side. She was put to rest in Vermont on october 30, the day before Halloween. I don;t remember much about the Halloween, I only know her spirit came to me on that first Halloween Eve,& she let me know that she was ok, in this new land she had entered, that there is "life" after death and that this time of year it was easier for loved ones to call out to those still on the "living" side. So, I started looking into the meanings of Halloween, reading up on it, learning what I could, & I discovered alot about myself & how these things made more sense to me. So, before I knew it,I was on a new path of thinking ,finding that earth based religions felt right to me.

As the years have gone by, I started doing more for friends at Halloween ,making things, sending Halloween cards, and thiis has just grown as the years have gone by. I do more for Halloween, that I do for those "other holidays" thou I will celebrate Winter Solitice.

So, now you all know how I came to find Halloween & my way of live.

I hope you all had a Wonderful Halloween & Happy New Year!